We arrived in Australia, and their customs officers came down on me hard for a bulb of garlic that made its way into my bag accidentally. We had so many groceries with us in various bags throughout New Zealand, and I just missed the garlic when we were leaving New Zealand. Oops! Anyway, not the happiest start, but we were stoked to be in a new country.

Our hotel was really nice, and we landed at a good place for a quick lunch. We were pretty wiped from the early start, time difference, and bad night's sleep after a rowdy night at the hostel. So, we sacked out until dinner, popped over to Darling Harbour for a bite, and then just passed out.

The next day we explored the central business district and went down to the harbor, where we saw the famous harbor bridge and Sydney Opera House. Bev popped into the Park Hyatt to network with one of the concierges there, and they ended up giving us a tour of the hotel (amazing place) and then some passes for a free harbor cruise. Good deal!

The next day we met up with Bev's friend, Denise. They met during middle school in the States when Denise came over with her family from Australia. Fast friends, they stayed in touch for many years, until they lost touch for a bit. Thanks to the Internet, they hooked back up, and after years apart, they had a reunion in the lobby of our hotel.

Denise came into Sydney with her husband, Al, and three-year-old son, Lachlan. We caught up a bit in the car on the way to Coogee beach, had lunch, and then we headed back to her house in the Blue Mountains.